Officer wounded, 1 person killed in shooting at arts magnet school
KNOXVILLE, TENN. — Police faced gunfire as they responded to reports of a possible gunman at a Tennessee high school Monday, leaving one person dead and an officer wounded, authorities said.
No one else was killed or wounded at Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville, a city about 180 miles east of Nashville, police said. A male has been detained. Police said they responded to the school around 3:15 p.m. and when they encountered a male with a gun, shots were fired.
“Upon approach of the subject, shots were fired,” Knoxville Police Department posted on Facebook. “A Knoxville
Police officer was struck at least one time and transported to the hospital with injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening.”
Speaking from outside a hospital, Knoxville Mayor
Indya Kincannon told WATE-TV that she spoke with the wounded officer and that he was conscious and in good spirits.
The police post said a male died at the school, which is not far from the city’s zoo and Interstate 40. The school is in a residential area near some churches.
Three students from Austin-East Magnet High School have been shot to death away from the campus less than three weeks apart this year, police said.
Last week, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that will make Tennessee the latest state to allow most adults 21 and older to carry handguns — openly or concealed — without first clearing a background check and training. Lee backed the legislation over objections from law enforcement groups.
The law, which does not apply to long guns, will take effect July 1.